Newly-elected National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party has vehemently defended what he said is a private initiative by the chairman to buy 275 new buses for commercial use in the constituencies.
Sammi Awuku said even he, without clout and financial muscle, was able to purchase 200 motorbikes to all constituency youth organisers and wondered why Chairman Freddie Blay who owns a media house, a law firm, has been Member of Parliament and Second Deputy Speaker for years cannot marshal resources to procure 275 vehicles.
As part of the criteria to becoming the chairman of the NPP, Sammi Awuku said the aspirant must show proof of being either resourceful or has the resources to push the party’s agenda.
He was in doubt that Blay had some resources and was resourceful enough to raise funds for the procurement of the vehicles.
His comments come in the wake of criticisms against the newly elected chair Freddie Blay for funding the procurement of some 275 vehicles for each of the NPP constituency.
The vehicles procured at a cost of $11 million are to be operated by the State Transport Company with a percentage of proceeds paid to the NPP constituency offices.
Mr Blay is reported to have paid an initial $3 million with the remaining amount left to be paid through the proceeds that will accrue from operating the commercial bus.
But the NPP chair has been criticized heavily for the policy with many questioning his source of funding.
The Minority in Parliament is also raising an alarm over the policy and has asked for a financial audit of the finances of the Ghana National Petroleum Company, where Blay acts as the Board chair.
The president of the National House of Chiefs Togbe Afede also wants the scandal to be investigated by the Special Prosecutor.
But speaking to Joy News a day after he was elected as National Organiser, Sammi Awuku said there is absolutely no wrongdoing in the procurement of the buses.
He said having toured the entire constituency during the run-up to the elections, he, like Freddie Blay, was confronted with the challenges facing the supporters at the constituency level.
According to him, Freddie Blay decided to do something about party financing at the constituency level.
“To make resourcing our constituency party easier I am going to push for an arrangement and a facility so that we can acquire at least minimum of 275 vehicles so that the party at the local level can have some engagement and run this as a commercial entity. Then the proceeds of it, the party at the constituency level can keep part and use the rest to pay for the facility taken," he reported Freddie Blay as saying.
He added Mr Blay went further to negotiate on his own accord but discussed with John Boadu to act as a guarantor which he agreed.
“If today there is a default the NPP and its assets will not be sold,” he explained, adding it was not a party initiative but a purely private initiative.
When his attention was drawn to the fact that his explanation was at variance with what Richard Nyama, the Spokesperson of Blay had said, the National Organiser said there was no contradiction at all.
Nyama had suggested in an interview with Joy FM that even though his boss brought up the idea, it was agreed to by the party and accepted by same.
But Awuku said there was no contradiction at all. He said the party chair discussed it with John Boadu who is also a key member of the party as well he Awuku.
So even though the party structure may not officially have been informed about it key party officials were in the know and were ready to support the initiative privately.
“If me, a small fry was able to procure 200 motorbikes for my Youth organisers, mobilized T shirts for all of them without a dime coming from the party, you think Freddie who has been in this business, being a business man has been an MP cannot raise money for these buses?” he asked.
Source: Joy News
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Saami Awuku is a betrayal and we shall show him very soon
EIIIIII TIME CHANGES. SO WHEN SAMMY AWUKU WAS SAYING BOYS ABRE I NOW UNDERSTAND. NOW THE SUFFERING IS OVER AND HE CAN SINGLE HANDEDLY BUY 200 MOTOR BIKES AT A GO AND DISTRIBUTE IT FOR FREE. THIS IS JUST THE MOTOR BIKES AM SURE HE SPENT ALOT ON OTHER THINGS WHICH RUNS INTO BILLIONS. OH I NOW UNDERSTAND KEN AGYAPONG THATS WHY HE GETS ANGRY ON HIS OWN PARTY PEOPLE ARE MAKING MONEY. tHIS IS JUST A PARTY PERSON HE HAS NO MINISTERIAL POSSITION AND GETTING MONEY LIKE THIS, THEN WHAT ABOUT DOES IN THE MINISTRIES HEADING THERE. WOW GHANA IS IN TROUBLE. OUR SECURITY UNITS NEEDS A LOT OF SUPPORT INCLUDING BOOTS AND UNIFORMS BUT ONE MAN IN A PARTY CAN BUY 200 MOTOR BIKES JUST TO SHARE FOR FREE. BOYS ABRE TRUE TRUE ENJOY BROTHER ENJOY.
Sammy awuku, i thought you were a sensible person not knowing you are a big Gimifo paaaaaa! So you don't see anything wrong with this display of stoupidity. How can you? You guys are the same guys who everything wrong with anything mahama appointees did, even when it was not harmful. You so called incorruptible president and vice were saying all sorts of nun sense, claiming the former government was inferior but what we see is far far inferior.
Hmmm we told u so. NDC is being vindicated. Money grabbing spray at the expense of the ordinary Ghanaian.
OMG I reject voting for NPP. I dont think i will vote again in Ghana. Sammy Awuku u have really disappointed me. Eiii shd we ever take politicians serious.? At least inspite of Mahama's corruption we saw physical infrastructure. NPP pls u guys shd stop this opulence and be modest small. I feel so ashamed for vouching on your incorruptibility.
hey sammy awuku, stop defending this unethical behaviour of blay. it was very shameful for you guys to condone such a unclever and untimely decision on the part freddie blay. it was completely wrong
IT'S REAL FUNNY HOW COMMENTATORS TEND TO ATTACK WHOEVER SPEAKS THE TRUTH. INTERESTING TIMES AHEAD... ALL I EVER WISH FOR IS WHEN THE YOUTH WILL KNOW THEY GOT TO BE PATRIOTIC TO THIS MOTHERLAND OF OURS RATHER THAN BEING PARTY LOVERS. ....I MEAN LOOK AT HOW ONE WHO WAS STRUGGLING TO RAISE FUNDS A FEW YEARS BACK NOW SPEND A WHOOPING AMOUNT OF MONEY GHANA FIRST
Loose talk. Am ashamed of my own. Kuffuor told thme that power can be tricky but they are not listening. Time will surely tell.
Power is like disease, you lose all your common sense. Good luck npp
tell us why you couldn't provide the 200 motor bikes when NPP was in opposition but provided same in 18 months that NPP have been in power. this inexperience response;throwing more suspicious activities in the public domain.